Electrosurgical device

Abstract

Disclosed herein is an electrosurgical device including a handle at a proximal end and an elongate shaft coupled to the handle and extending distally from the handle. The device also includes a distal working end, including a return electrode and an active electrode supported by an insulative spacer, the insulative spacer separating the return and active electrode. The active electrode has a planar surface that is distal facing and defines a maximum planar surface length. The insulative spacer is generally tapered between the return electrode and active electrode. The insulative spacer has a planar stabilizing surface on a device first side that has a length that extends along the longitudinal axis, extending from a distal-most end of the return electrode to a leading edge surface of the active electrode. This length is at least as long as the maximum planar surface length.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An electrosurgical device, comprising: a handle at a proximal end of the device, an elongate shaft extending distally from the handle defining a longitudinal axis and a distal end, the distal end having a return electrode, an active electrode and an electrically insulative spacer axially separating the return and active electrode; wherein the active electrode resides along a single plane and defines a planar surface that is distal facing with a lateral width, the planar surface angled relative to the longitudinal axis to define a linear leading edge of the active electrode that has a lateral extent that extends across a majority of the lateral width and defines a distal-most edge of the electrosurgical device; wherein the insulative spacer is asymmetrically tapered between the return electrode and active electrode and defines a first planar surface that extends along and at an incline to the longitudinal axis and also extends across an extent of the insulative spacer on a first side of the longitudinal axis, the active electrode linear leading edge also located on the longitudinal axis first side. 
     
     
         2 . The electrosurgical device of  claim 1  wherein the active electrode planar surface defines a planar surface length extending from the leading edge to an opposing rear edge, and the first planar surface of the insulative spacer has a first length extending from the return electrode to a leading edge of the insulative spacer, the first length at least as long as the planar surface length of the active electrode, configured to shield any tissue in contact with the first planar surface from inadvertent tissue treatment. 
     
     
         3 . The electrosurgical device of  claim 1  wherein the planar surface of the active electrode is oriented at an acute angle relative to the first planar surface of the spacer, the acute angle extending through the spacer. 
     
     
         4 . The electrosurgical device of  claim 1  wherein the first planar surface has a lateral width that extends along the linear leading edge lateral extent and is configured to guide stably and broadly contact an adjacent tissue and place the active electrode leading edge onto a first tissue, while angling a remaining portion of the planar surface of the active electrode away from the first tissue. 
     
     
         5 . The electrosurgical device of  claim 1  wherein the insulative spacer defines a second planar surface, on an opposite side of the longitudinal axis to the first planar surface, the second planar surface axially longer than the first planar surface. 
     
     
         6 . The electrosurgical device of  claim 1  wherein the insulative spacer defines a multi-faceted outer surface, including at least the first planar surface, a second planar surface and a plurality of curved surfaces separating the first and second planar surfaces, the second planar surface having a lateral width that extends across a majority of the lateral width. 
     
     
         7 . The electrosurgical device of  claim 1  wherein the insulative spacer is asymmetrically tapered between the first side and an opposing second side of the insulative spacer, the opposing second side having a greater taper angle than the first side. 
     
     
         8 . The electrosurgical device of  claim 1  wherein the active electrode planar surface defines a trapezoidal shaped boundary. 
     
     
         9 . The electrosurgical device of  claim 8  wherein the spacer defines a distal-most surface that is congruent with the active electrode planar surface. 
     
     
         10 . An electrosurgical device, comprising:
 a handle at a proximal end, an elongate shaft extending distally from the handle along a longitudinal axis and a distal end having a tubular return electrode, an active electrode and an electrically insulative spacer axially separating the return and active electrode;   wherein the active electrode defines a planar surface that is distal facing, the planar surface angled relative to the longitudinal axis to define a leading edge of the active electrode defining a distal-most edge of the distal end;   wherein the insulative spacer is tapered between the return electrode and active electrode and defines a first planar surface that extends from a leading edge of the insulative spacer directly adjacent the leading edge of the active electrode, proximally along the longitudinal axis and also extends laterally across the insulative spacer, the first planar surface configured to engage a first tissue and stabilize an orientation of the leading edge of the active electrode relative to a target tissue,   wherein the first planar surface of the insulative spacer has a linear length extending along the longitudinal axis from the return electrode to a distal-most edge of the insulative spacer, the linear length extending more than half a diameter of the shaft, to shield the first tissue engaged by the first planar surface from inadvertent tissue treatment while electrosurgical energy is applied to the target tissue at the active electrode.   
     
     
         11 . The electrosurgical device of  claim 10  wherein the active electrode defines a lateral width and the first planar surface of the insulative spacer has a lateral width that extends across a majority of the active electrode lateral width. 
     
     
         12 . The electrosurgical device of  claim 10  wherein the planar surface of the active electrode is oriented at an acute angle relative to the first planar surface of the spacer, the acute angle extending through the spacer. 
     
     
         13 . The electrosurgical device of  claim 10  wherein the insulative spacer defines a second planar surface, on an opposite side of the electrosurgical device to the first planar surface, the second planar surface axially longer than the first planar surface and extending at an incline relative to the longitudinal axis and extending across a majority of a radius of the tubular return electrode. 
     
     
         14 . The electrosurgical device of  claim 10  wherein the insulative spacer defines a multi-faceted outer surface, including at least the first planar surface and a second planar surface. 
     
     
         15 . The electrosurgical device of  claim 10  wherein the insulative spacer is asymmetrically tapered between a first side and an opposing second side of the insulative spacer, the opposing second side having a greater angle of taper than the first side. 
     
     
         16 . The electrosurgical device of  claim 10  wherein the active electrode planar surface defines a trapezoidal shaped boundary. 
     
     
         17 . The electrosurgical device of  claim 16  wherein the insulative spacer defines a distal-most surface that is distal facing and congruent with the active electrode planar surface. 
     
     
         18 . A method of treating a target tissue with an electrosurgical device, the electrosurgical device having a longitudinal axis, an active electrode oriented at an incline to the longitudinal axis, an insulative spacer and a return electrode, the method comprising: engaging a substantial portion of a planar surface of the insulative spacer of the electrosurgical device on a first tissue, to locate a leading edge of the active electrode adjacent the target tissue with a proximal portion of the active electrode spaced away from the target tissue, the planar surface extending proximally from active electrode at an incline to the longitudinal axis and having a lateral planar width that is at least half of a maximum lateral width of the active electrode; moving the active electrode of the device towards the target tissue while maintaining engagement of the planar surface on the first tissue, the planar surface oriented relative to the active electrode to preferentially place the active electrode leading edge on the target tissue, while angling a planar surface of the active electrode away from the target tissue, the leading edge defining a distal-most edge of the electrosurgical device; and moving the leading edge of the active electrode along the target tissue while applying electrosurgical energy to treat the target tissue while maintaining engagement of the planar surface of the insulative spacer on the first tissue. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the planar surface of the insulative spacer has a length that defines an inert side of the device, and wherein moving the leading edge of the active electrode along the target tissue while applying electrosurgical energy treats the target tissue while shielding the first tissue from the electrosurgical energy. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising adjusting the orientation of the device to engage the planar surface of the active electrode with a second tissue while viewing a rear edge surface of the active electrode; and
 applying electrosurgical energy to debulk the second tissue, the insulative spacer defining a tapered surface extending from a rear edge surface of the active electrode, the tapered surface configured to provide visibility of the rear edge surface while the debulking the second tissue.